Crank and switch combination



Jan. 7, 1941. BLAYLQCK 2,227,696

CRANK AND SWITCB COMBINATION Filed Nov. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. RAYMONDQBLAYLOCK.

Jan. 7, 1941. R c g y ocK 2,227,696

CRANK AND SWITCH COMBINATION Filed Nov. 91, 1937 2 Sheets+$heet 2 INVENTOR. QAYMQND C.BLAY.LocK

22 A NEY Patented Jan. 7, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 2,227,696 CRANK AND swrrcn conmmnrron Raymond C. Biaylock, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Curtias-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 9, 1937, Serial No. 173,587

I 13 Claims.

trical circuit (or it may control a valve in a.

fluid system) which thus energizes the electrical'retracting motor which may continue to operate until a safety throw-out mechanism opens the'switch and automatically restores the switch lever to its normal open position whenever the landing gear reaches either of its limits of travel. The invention resides more particularly in the switch lever, without the switch per se, and in the combination of this lever with alternate crank means by which the landing ,gear can be manually actuated in the event of any failure of the electrical or fluid system. In such a mechanically operated landing gear system this provision for manual operation in 25 an emergency is of extreme importance and though it is entirelypossible to have manual retracting mechanism-to supplement the electrical or fluid operating means and to have them entirely disassociated as far as the controls are complexity of modern aircraft operation at every opportunity and in the present case this is done by combining a manual crank mechanism with the electrical switch or fluid valve operating lever in one simplified unit. The result of this is a valuable saving in aircraft space and in practice the pilot need have in mind but one control for landing gear operation; when he reaches for it a simple motion sets the electrical or fluid system in operation and if it should fail to so respond an alternate motion conditions the mechanism for manual operation as a simple hand crank. The saving of space is further accomplished by the folding of the crank and handle.

Thus it is ,a principal object of this invention to produce a combination crank and switch operating mechanism for the control of an electrically or fluid operated system, but which in emergency is adapted for alternate manual actuation of the landing gear.

A further object is the provision in a combination device of this kind of means whereby the manual and power controls can be selectively operated as desired by a single coniointoperating lever but in which it is mechanically imposconcerned, yet it is highly desirable to reduce the a sible to operate the one without disconnecting the other and vice versa.

An additional object is to provide a crank handle (or switch lever) which when locked in its operating attitude may be readily unlocked and folded to an out of the way position. In line with the object of making the device as compact as possible, its construction is such that the number-of parts are few and of simplified design which contributes to its neat appearance 'and space .saving characteristics.

Referring to the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 shows in cross section a combined switch operating and crank mechanism with the latter ready for manual operation,

Fig.2 shows an end elevation of the same mechanism with the crank arm in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, r

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view,

Fig. 4 is a sectiomon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

and illustrates the switch operating part of the device,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the crank handle taken on the line 5-5, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism with the crank handle folded and in operable engagement with the switch operating section of the device. I

For an understanding of the invention the following description in conjunction with the drawing discloses that mounted on the shaft I0 is a collar i2, as best shown in Fig. l,' and loosely mounted in turn upon this collar is a crank hub l3, to which is attached a crank arm H by pivotation upon a bolt I5. This hub l3, as seen in Figure 3, etc is of a substantially rectangular I outer form and one end thereof is pierced by a bore to receive the bolt [5. As stated, a crank arm I4 is pivoted'thereon' and'this is accom; plished by having the crank arm forked at its pivot end. The fork arms then straddle the hub along its longer sides so that the hub is really embraced by the fork and yet the latter is capable of being moved with respect to the hub. Foldably mounted on the outer-end of the crank arm ll, by means of the pin it, is a crank handle ll-which carries loosely mounted and in surrounding relation thereupon a handle [8 by which the operator may conveniently rotate the crank and thus turn the shaft Ill even though the said shaft and crank hub 13 are not. in direct operative engagement. This is accomplished by reason of a releasable connection comprising a driving stud l9 fixed to the inner end of the crank arm I4 which engages 'a complementary slot 20 in a circular driving plate 2I. This plate 2! is keyed to the shaft I and is. held thereon by the nut and cotter pin arrangement II over which is provided a dished cover 22, held in place by screws set in its periphery to extend into the drive plate 2I.

As before stated, the crank arm I4, through its hub I3, is pivotally mounted on a bolt I5 and a the purpose of such mounting is to allow a disconnection to be made between the crank and drive shaft I 0. That is, the crank I4 may be rotated slightly on pivot I5, in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, which causes the stud I9 to move out of slot and sever the driving connection as is clearly shown in Fig. 6. To prevent such an occurrence, except at the will of the pilot, or-other operator, a lug means is associated with the crank I4 as follows; in the hub I3 two spatially separated notches 23 and 24 are provided with which a retractable latch member 25 is alternately engageable. The latch member 25 is L shaped in cross section and the base of the L extends througha hole 26 in the hub of the crank arm I4 which is formed as an H shaped channel. Thus the member 25 extends through the opening 26 (which is large enough to permit the necessary sliding movement therein) and its extremity is organized to threadedly connect to a rod 21 extending along the outer side of the web of said channelled crank arm I4. An apertured guide bracket 28 is fastened to this web at about the mid point of its extent to act as a support for the rod 21, which passes through the aperture therein, and at the same time to provide an abutment for a spring 29 which encircles the rod 21 and extends to a seat on the base of the member 25. The purpose of the spring 29 is to at all times exert a force tending to cause the latch 25 to slide into one of the notches 23 or 24 depending upon the angular position of the crank arm 84.

The opposite end of the rod 21 is equipped with a ferrule 30 formed into a forked clevis at its extremity and which through a pin 3i pivotally connects to one arm of a bellcrank 32. Adjacent the location of member 30 the web of crank arm I4 is again interrupted by an opening 33 through which the arm of the bellcrank 32 extends to its pivot 34 journalled in the sidewalls of the member I4. The other arm of the bellcrank 32 is formed at its tip with a contact portion 35 adapted to engage the foot of a T shaped pawl 36 which is reciprocally fitted in a third opening in the web of the member I4. The cross piece of pawl 36 engages cam-like end pieces 31 which are in reality the arms .of a forked extension of the crank handle stud I'I. These cam members 31 are identical in conformation. They each have a notch 38 centered,

on the axial line extending through the handle I8 into which the dross. bar of the pawl member 36 fits to thus lock the handle l8 in its unfolded or operative position and at the same time permit the rod 21 to be slid alo'ng by spring 29 until member 25 fits into slot 24. As before stated, the member I4 carries a pin I6 near its e (1 upon which the handle i& is foldably moun ed and this pin serves an additional purpose in acting as a guide and stop for a release plunger 39 which extends in the form of a rod 40 through the hollow interior of the handle stud l1 and is retractable therein.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the stud I1 is surmounted by a threaded cap 4| which serves.

to hold the handle I8 in place and to act as a stop for a spring 42 which is contained within the hollow of the handle I8 and oppositely bears upon a push button 43 fixed to the end of rod -40. With this construction, pressure upon the button 43, against the action of spring 42, acts to force rod 40 down into the handle I8 and eject the T shaped member 36 from the slots 38, upon which the member 25 is-retracted through the action of the linkage previously described and at the same time the handle I8 is unlatched so that it can be folded to the attitude shown in Fig. 6. As this is done, the transmitted pressure to spring 29 keeps member 36 in contact with the cam faces of the members 31 and when the handle I8 nears its completely folded attitude, the member 35 reaches a depressed cam portion 31'. When it enters this portion the member 25 is allowed to be extended by spring 29 and to lock the handle I8 in folded position by its detent action.

When the handle I8 is being folded by the operations Just described, the crank arm I4 can be swung back on its pivot l5 to the position shown in Fig. v6 and when the handle is fully folded the member 25 extends and engages the notch 23 to lock the arm B4 in this alternate attitude. Also fixed to the arm I4 is a lugged guide member 44 which surrounds the slide member 25 to act as a restraining guide therefor and which also has a lug portion 45 extending therefrom. The collar member 12 has an integral driving plate or bellcrank 45 extending therefrom in one end of which is a notch-41 into which the lug -means of its integral collar portion I2 and with the lug 45 in the notch 41 the crank arm l4 can be moved one way or the other in rotation about the shaft I0 without afiecting the latter since the stud I9 is separated from the slot 20 but what it does is to move the bellcrank lever 46 in a motion similar to that ofthe arm I4 and such motion is transmitted by a rod 48 to an electrical switch or fluid valve for actuating the retractable landing gear.

To prevent the lug 45 from passing completely through the notch 41 a guard or stop 50 is provided integral therewith as shown. Similarly a circular guard plate BI keeps the arm I4 in the position shown in Fig. 6 while operating the said switch. It is fixedly mounted by spaced legs 53 to a fixed surface 54 and as it is pierced by a notch 52, corresponding to the notch. 41, through which the lug 45 must pass, the lever I4 can only be connected to or disconnected from the switch actuating lever 46 when the latter is in the neutral position. V

In the normal operation of the preferred mechanism of this invention the crank handle I8will be folded and the crank lever I4 swung inwardly as in Fig. 6 and will be in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. The push button 43 serves two purposes simultaneously, first to unlock the handle I8 so that it may be folded, and second to unlock the crank arm l4 so that it may be swung inwardly. Assume that the crank was in the position shown in Fig. l; to

against the arm I4. At the same time, the leg of the T shaped pawl 36 has'caused the bellcrank 32 and the rod 21 to slide "the latch 25 clear of the notch 24 which permits the crank arm M to be swung totlie position of Fig. 6, 'where the spring 29 will force the latch 25 into the groove 23 thereby maintaining the new position of the crank lever l4. To unlock the crank so thatitrnay be returned to the cranking position, the handle I8 is unfolded and when in its outward position the pawl 36 (which temp0-' rarily disengages the catch 25 as the handle unfolds) will be snapped back into the notches 38 by the spring 29.

The operation of the switch operating mech-- engagement of the lug 45 outside of the notch 41, the fixed guard 5| is provided which has the 'notch 52 coinciding with the notch 41 so that when the crank is shifted and rotated thelug 45 will bear against the guard 5| until it comes to the notch 52 which it will then pass through to engage the notch 41 of lever46. As the arm 14 is shifted the stud l9 swings out of the notch so as to clear the drive plate2| before the lug 45 enters the notch 52; therefore, it is impossible to have both the switch or manual operating mechanisms engaged at the same time.

In addition to serving to properly locate the lug 45, the guard 5| prevents the accidental disengagement of the crank arm lug 45 when moved to the switch-on" position. The notch. 52 also causes the switch operating lever 46 to be located exactly in the neutral or off position, before the crank arm I4 can be pulled out to the hand cranking position. When the handle l8 has been folded and the arm l4 shifted as just described, to the position shown in Fig. 6, they serve simply as a handle for a switch operating mechanism and moving of the handle in rotation about the shaft Ill closes a switch and causes the electric motor or other power means to extend (or retract) the landing gear which, as it reaches the end of its travel automatically opens the switch and returns the handle to the neutral or off position. Throwing the handle in the opposite direction reverses the operation and retracts thegear after which the handle is again automatically returned to the neutral position. The handle may also be actuated by hand should it'bedesired to stop the electric motor or other power means at intermediate points of the landing gear travel.

The method for returning the handle l8 and crank arm l4 to the cranking position was previously described except for one detail which is as follows; when the landing gear is being operated by auxiliary power the drive plate 2| and the shaft I0 willbe rotating, the latter in its bearing 55, through motion transmitted thereto by the bevel gears 56 and 51 which connect to the previously mentioned auxiliary motor. When the mechanism is stopped the drive plate 2| may have stopped'at any point of its revolution and the notch 20 for example may be diametrically .opposite the stud l9 which must engage the notch. To take care of this conditionthere is sufficient clearance between guard 5| and plate than by the terms of the 2| to permit the lug 45 and stud H to pass between them while the crank I4 is rotated until the stud l9 comes opposite the notch 20 at which time the arm l4 will assume the position of Fig.

1 upon which the landing gear may be retracted or extended manually by the pilot.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the specific,

features illustrated and described, nor'otherwlse following claims. What I claim is: 1. A hand crank pivoted to a hub on a driven shaft for movement fore and aft with respect to said shaft and alternately engageable in consequence ofsuch movement either with means to impart motion to said shaft or to a switch operating mechanism.

2. In combination, a driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism mounted upon said shaft but not rotatable therewith and a foldable hand crank selectively operable to impart motion either to said shaft or, after folding thereof to said switch actuating'mechanism.

3. In combination, a driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism, a foldable hand crank selectively operable to impart motion to said shaft or to said switch actuating mechanism and spring pressed latch means, operated by folding of said crank for locking said crank in its selective positions.

4. In combination, a driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism, a pivoted crank lever, a foldable hand grip pivoted thereon, said crank lever being selectively operable to impart motion to said shaft or to said switch actuating mechanism, and spring pressed latching means controlled by the folding movement of said hand grip for locking said crank lever in its selective positions.

5. In'combination, a driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism, a hub member loosely mounted on said shaft, a crank lever pivoted to said hub,-said crank lever being selectively operable to impart motion to said shaft or to said switch actuating mechanism, a foldable hand grip pivoted at an extremity of said crank lever, and spring pressed latching means, controlled by the folding movement of said hand grip, for locking said crank lever in its-selective positions.

6. In combination, a driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism loosely mounted on said shaft, a hub member loosely mounted on said shaft, a crank lever pivoted to said hub for limited movement axially thereof to selectively impart motion to said shaft or to said switch actuating mechanism, a foldable hand grip pivtuating mechanism, a foldabl'e hand grip pivoted at an extremity of said crank lever, and spring pressed latching means, controlled by the fold-' ing movement of said .hand grip, for locking said crank lever in its selective positions.

8. In combination, a power driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism loosely mounted on said shaft, link means connecting to a power switch, a hub member loosely mounted on said driven shaft, a crank lever pivoted to said hub for lim-= ited movement axially thereof, engagement means associated with said crank lever adapted to selectively operate said power driven shaft or alternatively, said switch actuating mechanism, and guard means cooperating with one of said engagement means to\ prevent manual operation of said power driven shaft except when said switch-operating mechanism is in the ad position.

9. In combination, a switch operating mechanism and a control member pivoted to a hub on a shaft for movement between selective positions lengthwise of said shaft whereby rotation of said control member about the axis of said shaft when in one position will impart motion either to said shaft or when in another position to said switch operating mechanism.

10. In combination, a power driven shaft, switch means controlling said power, and an auxiliary crank for driving said shaft, said crank being alternately engageable to rotate said shaft or said switch means upon movement fore or aft with respect to said shaft.

11. In combination, a power driven shaft, control means affecting said power, auxiliary crank means for driving said shaft, said crank being alternatively connectible to rotate said shaft or said control means and structural shield means to prevent connection of said crank to such shaft when the latter is being driven by said power,

12. In combination, a normally D wer driven shaft, switch actuating mechanism mounted-to rotate with respect to said shaft and a foldable hand crank selectively operable to impart man ual motion either to said shaft, or after folding thereof to said switch mechanism for actuation of said power drive.

13. The combination of a part to be moved, power means for moving it, switch means for controlling said power means, manual means selectively engageable either to operate said switch means or to move said part and other means acting upon said manual means to prevent engagement with said part while being driven by said power means. I

RAYMOND C. BLAYLDCK. 

